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NEIGHBORS

Benevilla expands employment skills program

Greater community outreach part of initiative

Posted 2/24/21

The nonprofit Benevilla, 16752 N. Greasewood St., announced the expansion of its Groups Supported Employment program in the Northwest Valley.

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NEIGHBORS

Benevilla expands employment skills program

Greater community outreach part of initiative

Posted

Benevilla, 16752 N. Greasewood St., announced the expansion of its Groups Supported Employment program in the Northwest Valley.

Any community-minded business can become a Benevilla GSE partner by providing job placement opportunities within their organizations.

Jay Lickus, who has been marketing coordinator with Benevilla for four years, and Beth Stockton, Benevilla enrichment liaison, will head up this initiative and be responsible for expanding community outreach.

“We are incredibly passionate about expanding this program to the local business community knowing how it can benefit both the hiring company and the GSE members in so many ways,” Mr. Lickus said in a news release.

The special GSE program is a part of the Benevilla “Helping Partners” Life Enrichment Program. It provides members with employment skills training and opportunities. Many GSE employees can obtain special training and certifications, such as a food handlers’ cards and work in job opportunities where they earn a steady paycheck.

The GSE Program offers many benefits to a hiring company. Individuals with disabilities may offer employers a competitive edge, helping diversify and strengthen their workplaces through varied perspectives on how to confront challenges and complete jobs.

GSE employees bring commitment to the workplace and they excel at performing repetitive tasks normally contributing to excessive employee turnover. Studies show employees with disabilities stay at jobs longer, reducing the time and cost involved in retraining and replacing personnel.

GSE members take their job seriously and are loyal and committed. Other benefits reported by businesses include improvement in productivity and morale and more diversity in the workplace. And these benefits can have a real impact on a company’s bottom line.

In a 2018 Accenture report, in partnership with the American Association of People with Disabilities and Disability, it was shown companies embracing best practices for employing and supporting people with disabilities in their workforces consistently outperform their peers, including experiencing, on average, 28% higher revenue, double the net income and 30% higher economic profit margins.

To learn how to become a GSE community partner or about the program, contact Mr. Lickus at jlickus@benevilla.org, or call 623-734-5438.

The Benevilla Helping Partners Program serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program offers flexible and personalized daily schedules, meaningful, life enriching programs, a social atmosphere and various community interactions and outings.

Activities include group exercise, socialization through games, gardening, discussion groups, entertainment, outings, arts and crafts, and cognitive stimulation through brain games, cards, puzzles and more.